As a high-profile lawsuit filed by Judicial Watch against the Illinois State Board of Elections makes headlines, alleging widespread failures in the maintenance of voter registration lists across the state, Tazewell County stands apart.

Out of Illinois’ 102 counties, 66 are named in the lawsuit for purported shortcomings in updating voter records. Tazewell, however, is notably absent from that list—a detail local election officials say speaks volumes about their diligence.

According to data spanning November 2020 to November 2022, the Tazewell County Clerk & Recorder of Deeds Office reports the following activity:

• 10,263 voter registrations were removed.
• 1,638 removals resulted from confirmed deaths.
• 4,599 address confirmation notices were mailed to verify residency.
• 516 voters were moved to “inactive” status while residency investigations were conducted.

Federal election law mandates voter registration purges every other year, but Tazewell County has performed these reviews annually since 2020. “We take our responsibility to maintain the voter registration list very seriously,” said election staff in a statement. “Our team works stringently throughout the year to ensure its accuracy.”

While Judicial Watch’s lawsuit calls attention to counties it believes are underperforming, local officials emphasize that Tazewell’s proactive approach reflects a deep commitment to election integrity. “It would be difficult to find a county that more aggressively performs this vital task,” the office said.

In Illinois, voter registration maintenance is handled independently by each election jurisdiction. The Tazewell County Clerk’s Office is the sole entity authorized to make changes to its voter list.

Residents with questions about their voter registration status are encouraged to contact the Clerk’s Office directly. Staff are available year-round to provide clarity and assistance.